Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who scored the highest knock of 68 runs in India’s innings on Wednesday, didn’t shy to acknowledge the bowlers for setting the Pune ODI for the men-in-blue.

Besides Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik slammed an unbeaten 64-run knock as India overhauled the modest 230-run target to level the three-ODI series 1-1 against the Black Caps.

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“Absolutely, 230 is not too much in these times. The bowlers bowled really well and the fielders backed them up well. The bowlers had done half the job actually for us. The pressure of chasing 230 is naturally always less compared to chasing 300. It’s good we are on a winning run,” Dhawan said in the post-match conference.

Also read: Bowlers, fielders were clinical, says Virat Kohli

“There was no seam movement when India bowled and our bowlers bowled very tight lines and did the job for us. We played their pacers better than they played ours,” the Delhi batsman added.

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar led the bowling attack, claiming three big wickets. Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal supported him in the assault as they took two wickets each.

Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel joined the celebration after they dismissed Ross Taylor (21) and Tom Latham (38) respectively. Both the New Zelanders played a vital role in their team’s six-wicket win in Mumbai.

The 31-year-old southpaw batsman heaped praises on Bhuvneshwar, who returned with an impressive spell of 3/45.

Also read: Why Bhuvneshwar always shines in ‘pressure situation’?

“He (Bhuvneshwar) has raised his bar and I feel he is at a very high level. His control over the bowling is very good. Not just at the start but other variations. Even when he bowls slower ball and knuckle ball he makes sure he lands it in the right areas,” Dhawan said.

Dhawan liked the way Bhuvneshwar bowled Colin Munro, sending him back to pavilion for mere 10 runs. “The way he got that left-hander out (Colin Munro), it was because he pitched that ball in the right area and even when comes in the death over, he is the best bowler. Best bowler in the world I guess, the way he bowls Yorkers.”

In the Indian Premier League, both Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar have shared the dressing room representing the 2016 title winners Sunrisers Hyderabad. Dhawan was of the opinion that the Meerut quick has improved a lot in the recent past.

“I have seen him in the IPL and in the Indian team, he has bowled consistently well. He has improved a lot. And I feel that he has got a lot of belief in himself and that’s what is showing out there,” he said.